Mayers, Miers, Mayer, Meyer of Dresden Maine

The Mayers Family came to New England in the Priscilla along with the French Lutherans and other early settlers of Frankfort Plantation which was to become Dresden.  Wealthy for immigrants, they were German and natives of the town of Geisslingen, near Ulm in Wurtemburg.  In A History of Dresden (see resource page) it has a Release from Service from the city of Ulm releasing Johann Ulrich Mayer, baker; his wife, Catharina; & his two children Johann Ulrich & Catharina, all of Geisslingen, dated 11 Mar 1712 (HOD). Charles Allen goes on to say that he does not know where the family was from 1712 to 1751 (39 years) Tradition connects them to Linden on the Rhine, Frankfort & Dresden.  John Ulrich and three sons; George, Philip and Ludovick Cassimire, were granted land in Frankfort plantation.  Ludovick never married but George & Philip left many descendants.  Corespondence with the Plymouth Proprietors as early as 1759 shows that while they spoke slightly imperfect English, they were well educated for the time. (HOD)

There have been many spellings of the last name, but Mayers seems to be the most common so it is listed here that way.

Generation 1
1.  Johann (John) Ulrich Mayers; born bef 1712 in Gesslingen, Wurttemburg, son of Hans Ulrich Mayr & Barbara Neislmams (HOD), will probated 9 Jan 1764 (HOD); married Catharina Glokes or Gloker (HOD), daughter of Matthaus Glokar & Catharina Braunlesin (HOD); children: Johann & Catharina.

Generation 2
1.  Johann Ulrick Mayers; born bef 1712 in Gesslingen, Wurttemburg; married to Molly ?; children: Ludovick, George, Philip & Catherine.  It is unclear in HOD and everywhere else I have seen so far as to these generations.  Molly is listed as the widow in his will and the names Cassimir, Phillip, George & Catherine.  HOD says Johanna Magdelena Mayer appears also.  As I have not seen the will, I have to rely on secondhand info from HOD.  I think that given the ages, until I find anything else.  The Johann Ulrick that came to Dresden is the son, but remember this is only speculation.  Be careful about the information here according to Johann Meyers..

Generation 3
children of John Ulrick & Mary
1.  Ludovicus Cassamore or Cassimire Mayers; born 1732 (AHD), died 1802 (AHD)."..was well known as Doctor Mayers.  He lived in Pownalborough, now Dresden.  At the time of the Revolution, being a Loyalist, he went to Halifax, N.S., with Rev. Bailey in 1779, but returned and lived in a hut on the bank of the Eastern River.  He died very poor - possibly a pauper -from misfortune and intemperate habits." (HOD, p155) granted lots nos. 48 & 75 on the neck and no. 1 east of Eastern River.
2.  George Mayers; born 1740, died 10 Feb 1803 (AHD); married on 25 Nov 1773 to Mary (Molly) Houdelette, born 28 Aug 1755 in Boston (HOD) died 1834 (AHD) daughter of Charles Houdelette & Susannah McCrea see Houdlette page for more info."Rev. Jacob Bailey's journal records Nov. 25th, 1773, 'married George Mayer and Molly Houdlette' (HOD) Both are buried on the same plot as Charles & Susannah Houdlette in Forest Grove Cemetery, Dresden ME (AHD). granted lots nos. 50 & 73 on the neck and no. 3 east of Eastern River. George & Mary are buried in Forest Grove Cemetery; children: Sally, Mary, Charles, George, John, William, Stephen, Elizabeth, Nancy, Louis, Francis, Catherine, & James.
3.  Philip Mayers;
4.  Catherine Mayers; born bef 1750. "January 18, 1764, Catherine. daughter of Ulrick Miers, , appointed Abiel Lovejoy, guardian, in presense of Samuel Ford and Adino Nye, she being above 14 years of age" (HOD, p159)

Generation 3

Children of  George Mayers & Mary (John)
 additional info on their children and further generations in AHD pg 559a, The type is small and some of the children's names are difficult to read, so they might not be 100 % accurate.
1.  Sally Mayers; born 1775 (AHD); birth listed 21 Jun 1772 in Dresden ME in LDS & 21 Jun 1775 (HOD); died 28 Jun 1810 (HOD).  Probably was unmarried, buried as Sally, dau of George & Mary H Mayers in Forest Grove Cemetery (AHD).
2.  Mary Mayers;  born 1777 (AHD), born 9 Jun 1777 (HOD) in Dresden ME (LDS); married 30 Dec 1799 (HOD) or 1 Jan 1800 (LDS) to Robert Bickford (AHD); children: Maria, Catherine, Mary, Edward, Nancy, James, Betsey, & Buel. (there is a tree of their descendants AHD pg559b)
3.  Charles Mayers; born 1779 (AHD), born 29 Jun 1779 (HOD) in Dresden ME (LDS), died 20 Dec 1825 age  `46 (AHD) buried with his wife in Mayers Cemetery Dresden (AHD); married 20 Nov 1830 (LDS) in Dresden ME to Elizabeth (Betsey) Jackins (AHD, HOD) (Jaquin, anglicized French name, HOD), born 1793 (AHD), died abt 1877 (AHD); children: Howard, Aaron, John, Wesley, Mary, Sarah, Charles.  (Something is obviously wrong here)
4.  George Mayers; born 1781 (AHD), born 5 Apr 1781in Dresden ME (LDS), died 12 Dec 1867 age 86y 6m (AHD); married  10 Jun 1810 (HOD) to Rhoda Singleton (HOD,AHD), died 9 Mar 1875 age 88y 3m; children: Rudy or Rody, Sarah, & Miram or Hiram.(HOD, p159  says she died July 1837, AHD p360 in the transcription of Pine Grove Cemetery lists the date above which is most likely correct.  Maybe the other date is a daughter?)
5.  John Mayers; born 1783 (AHD), born 9 Jan 1783 (HOD), born 4 Jan 1783 in Dresden ME (LDS), died 25 Apr 1843 (HOD), buried in Forest Grove Cemetery; married on 26 Feb 1822 (HOD) to Elizabeth (HOD) or Betsey Leeman (AHD), died 3 May 1872 (HOD) age 77y 8m (AHD), buried in Forest Grove Cemetery; children: Angeline, Woodbury, Zorada, Martha & Mary.
6.  William Mayers; born 1785 (AHD), born 26 Apr 1785 (HOD) in Dresden ME (LDS); married on 28 Dec 1813 (HOD) to Nancy Smith (AHD); children: C????, Sumner & Hester.
7.   Stephen Mayers; born 1787 (AHD), born 3 Aug 1787 (HOD) in Dresden ME (LDS); married on 22 Feb 1816 (HOD) or 29 Jan 1816 (LDS) in Dresden ME to Polly Smith (AHD) Mary Smith (HOD); children: Mary Ann, Tryphosa, Caroline, Clementine, Tryfena (?), Brooks & Bowman. (listing in transcript of Pine Grove Cemetery,  AHD p345, Stephen Mayers, d June 22,1868. ae. 82; Mary, his wife, d. Sept. 24, 1876. ae. 83; Stephen, their son, d. Sept 27, 1842. ae. 11d; Cyrena H., their dau. d. Dec 30, 1842 14y.3m.7d.; Maria H., their dau. d. Sept 23, 1838. ae. 4y.5m.; Brooks, son, d. on passage from San Francisco to New York Oct. 14, 1872. ae. 51; Bowman B. Mayers, d. Apr. 15, 1909. ae. 76; Louisa F., wife of Bowman, d. July 22, 1875. 26y 6m.  I add this because it seems to explain and clarify a bit of the family tree where the other information was copied from).
8.   Elizabeth (Betsey) Mayers; born 1789 (AHD), born 3 Jun 1789 (HOD) in Dresden ME (LDS); married 29 Dec 1810 (HOD) to Reuel Smith (HOD) or Hiram Smith (AHD); children: Hiram
9.   Nancy Mayers; born 29 Dec 1792 (HOD), born 1785 (AHD), born 26 Apr 1785 in Dresden ME (LDS); married Jesse Allen (HOD,AHD); children: Elbridge
10. Lewis or Louis Mayers; born 1794 (AHD), born 17 Feb 1794 (HOD) in Dresden ME (LDS); married Sarah Palmer (AHD) of Pittston (HOD); children: Arletta.
11. Francis Mayers; born 1796 (AHD), born 1 May 1796 (HOD) in Dresden ME (LDS); married Malinda Smith (AHD); children: Adeline, Merservie, Zamada (?), Warren, & another son.
12. Catherine Mayers; born 27 Feb (HOD) 1797 (AHD), died 9 Apr "following" (HOD) I assume that means the same year.
13. James Mayers; born 7 Sep (HOD) 1799 (AHD), died Aug 1843 (HOD); married Fannie Austin (AHD), sister of Samuel Austin (HOD); children: Austin, Livona, & Sarah.

Generation 4
Children of  Mary Mayers & Robert Bickford (George,John)
1.  Maria Bickford (AHD); born 1800 (AHD); married James Goud (AHD).
2.  Catherine Bickford (AHD); born 1803 (AHD), 30 Jun 1803 in Dresden ME (LDS).
3.  Mary Ann Bickford (AHD) middle name from LDS; born 1806 (AHD), 1 Jan 1806 in Dresden ME (LDS); died 1891 (AHD); married  on 29 Oct 1826 in Dresden (LDS) to Warren Hathorn (AHD).
4.  Edward Bickford (AHD); born 1807 (AHD), died 30 Jan 1882 age74y 10m, monument in Forest Grove Cemetery (AHD); married Rachel D Maddorf (AHD), died 3 Apr 1892 age 75 (AHD); children: Maria, Georgianna, Louisa, Elbridge & Leonard (more on them and there descendants AHD p559b). buried with them is George Bickford, 7th Me. killed at Battle of ?olderness 6 May 1864 18y, possibly a son (AHD)
5.  Nancy Bickford (AHD); born 1811 (AHD), 28 Sep 1811 in Dresden ME (LDS) died 2 Feb 1899 age 88 (AHD); married James Hathorn (AHD), died 26 May 1904 age 81 (AHD); children: Frederick & Elizabeth (more on them and there descendants AHD p559b). James & Nancy are buried in Pine Grove Cemetery.
6.  James Bickford (AHD); born 1815 (AHD) died 16 May 1895 age 74 (AHD) the age doesn't seem to match the birth year; married Jane M Haines (AHD), died 11 Feb 1893 age 78;  children: Rachel, Harriet, Elizabeth, Mary, Charles (more on them and there descendants AHD p559b). James & Jane are buried in Pine Grove Cemetery.
7.  Betsey Bickford (AHD); born 1818 (AHD) died 18?7 (AHD).
8.  Ruel Bickford (AHD); born 1819 (AHD) died 6 Oct 1903 age 85 (AHD) buried in Pine Grove Cemetery; married Betsey Curtis (AHD).
9.  Elizabeth S. Bickford; born 1 Jan 1821 (LDS) I don't know if this is a different child or the same as #7. AHD doesn't list her except in the Pine Grove Transcripts Betsey, dau of Robert & Mary Bickford d. 7 Oct 1840 age 19y 9m..


Children of  George Mayers & Rhoda (George,John)
AHD p559 only lists Rody, Sarah and Hiram or Miram (can't tell the first letter could be either) Sally was found on LDS
1.  Sarah Mayers; born 12 Jan 1812 in Dresden ME (LDS)
2.  Sally Mayers; born 1818 in Dresden ME (LDS).
3.  Rodey Mayers; born 15 Apr 1820 in Dresden ME (LDS) This is a female, probably named after her mother, seems like it is Rhoda, Rudey or something similar to that. the records vary as to her name and its spelling..
4.  Miram or Hiram Mayers.

Children of John Mayers & Elizabeth (George,John)
1.  Angeline Mayers; born 1 May 1824 (HOD); died 25 Sep 1900 age 76y 4m (AHD), buried in Forest Grove Cemetery (AHD);  married Charles Mayers (HOD), son of Charles Mayers & ? (working to solve the Charles knot above), born 26 Mar 1826 (HOD) died 13 Oct 1883 age 70 (HOD,AHD), buried in Forest Grove Cemetery (AHD); children: (none found so far)
2.  Martha L. Mayers; born 26 May 1826 (HOD); died 1? (8 or 3) Oct 1861 35y 4m (AHD), buried in Forest Grove Cemetery (AHD); never married (HOD).
3.  Mary H. Mayers; born 26 May 1826 (HOD); died 13 May 1893 67y (AHD), buried in Forest Grove Cemetery (AHD); never married (HOD).
4.  Zorada Mayers; born 11 May 1831, lived 2 months (HOD) died 28 Apr 1831 4m (AHD), buried in Forest Grove Cemetery (AHD), (obviously one of the sources is wrong HOD only has a birth and AHD only a death, since she was a infant I dont think it mattersthat these are wrong, just wanted to make sure you noticed).
5.  Woodbury F. Mayers; born 23 Dec 1836 (HOD) "married Emily Hickey, of Brooklyn, NY (She born in Ireland) They reside in Brooklyn" (HOD, p160); children: (none found so far)
problems noticed so far, Johann Ulrich (father &/or son), Charles (mixed records)
more information coming as I have time to enter it

References: (see also resources page)
1.  'LDS' is the Latter Day Saint online genealogical library at familysearch.org.
2.  'THF' is The Houdlette Family 1707-1909 by Edith Laura Houdlette 1909, reprinted in A History of Dresden Maine by Rundlette Palmer (see next). This contains only names, no dates.
3.  'AHD' is A History of Dresden, Maine by Rundlette Palmer, 1979.
4.  'HOD' is History of Dresden, Maine by Charles Edwin Allen, 1931, reprinted 1977
5.  'EZA' refers to information contributed to this site by Elizabeth Allen.  She says it is documented by Eleanor Everson of Dresden.

Mayers Links:
- Dresden Town Website.  contains a short interesting history of the town.
- Mathom Bookshop in Dresden Maine
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Jul 2001
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